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Man charged with negligent homicide in death of officer from Tewksbury

The Lowell Sun

Updated:
10/17/2017 02:47:00 PM EDT

Michael Ricci

BRENTWOOD, N.H. (AP) -- An 18-year-old man heading to a drag racing event in New Hampshire was charged with negligent homicide in the Interstate 95 death of an off-duty Massachusetts police officer on a motorcycle, police said Tuesday.

Michael Ricci, of Burlington, Massachusetts, collided with the officer's bike on Oct. 8 after his car went through a closed crossover, according to the affidavit. Officer Louis Remigio, of Somerville, Massachusetts, flipped over the front of his bike and landed on the road. He died the next day. Ricci wasn't hurt.

Police say Ricci, who was released on bail on a reckless conduct charge before Remigio died, is scheduled to be arraigned Friday. His case has been assigned to the New Hampshire Public Defender's office, which had no comment on the case.

Police said Ricci was part of a group that met in Danvers, Massachusetts, to cruise together to "Import Day" at the New England Dragway in Epping, New Hampshire. They headed northbound on I-95. Ricci appeared to be driving aggressively, speeding up, switching lanes abruptly, and traveling in the breakdown lane. He was one of several drivers who missed the exit for the venue. Ricci eventually pulled over in the breakdown lane to speak with the other drivers, telling them to follow him and that he'd get them there.

Multiple witnesses told police the vehicles appeared to be racing one another in traffic and approached a crossover marked "closed" to make a U-turn in North Hampton.

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Ricci's car came into contact with Remigio in the southbound lane. Remigio lived in Tewksbury.

Police said Ricci declined to give a statement or consent to a sobriety test or blood draw.

He also faces a second-degree assault charge and three additional reckless conduct charges involving the drivers and passengers in three other vehicles traveling behind Remigio. One driver and passenger were hurt.

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